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December 02, 2015

AU, Act 2: AU 2015 Wednesday highlights

The energy was high, the food was good, and the minds were expanding at Day 2 of AU 2015. The Hive, a collaborative building project with people and robots, is more than halfway completed, and getting taller with every passing hour. The ShakrMakr in the Exhibit Hall was busy mixing up drinks and counting ice cubes like a good robot. And no storm troopers have been spotted today—maybe they partied a bit too hard last night.

Innovation Forum: It’s a New Innovation Game, Baby

Roman Mars was back this morning to host the second of this year’s connected Innovation Forums, this time looking at how a new generation of designers and makers are using new tools and technology to challenge the status quo.

Matt Flail and Tim Ganter talked about how they’re using 3D scanning, algorithmic modeling, and rapid manufacturing to make shoes that are customized to each individual foot.

Stephen Van Dyck showed us how architects can use generative design to go from model to finished project more quickly, and with greater agility.

Taylor Dawson showcased GE’s FirstBuild in Louisville, which is working in an open, collaborative way with hackers and developers alike to create and quickly bring to market the next generation of home appliances.

Ulrich Homann showed us how, by collecting and analyzing data, they’re helping consumers find the products they want, helping high school students find the classes that keep them engaged, and helping to turn an F-14 fighter into the fastest land vehicle. It’s a big data story, trust us.

After lunch, Roman returned to the stage to host this year’s final Innovation Forum, which looked at disruptive technologies changing the way we construct and experience our physical world.

Danielle Trofe showed how she’s creating high-end lampshades from mycelium—in other words, letting mold do the work in a sustainable, cost-effective way.

Joel Neidig told us how he and his colleagues at ITAMCO are using Autodesk products to create the next generation of gears for pumps, oil rigs, and wind turbines, including a water pump that can move 1800 cubic feet of water per second, insuring that a disaster like the one caused by Hurricane Katrina never happens again.

Robert Simmons demonstrated how their new steel construction chassis enables them build in a day what used to take 7 days, while also making the workplace safer.

Jeroen Pat and Jos Mulkens of Vorbij showed how they’re reinventing the construction process with prefabricated construction elements that can be customized in minutes and printed in hours.

And finally, Keith Warren of Autodesk showed how inexpensive drones can be used to capture reality on the ground for renovation projects, such as the one done on the downtown here in Vegas. Personally, we didn’t know Vegas had a downtown (we’ve barely left the casino…er, conference center) but thanks, Keith!

We knocked out another 200+ classes today—bam! How you like us now? We covered a lot of ground, from “Integration Robot Structural Analysis Professional with Advance Steel” to “Charlie and the Digital Factory—Making Of”. Check out the mobile app or #AU2015 to see what attendees and speakers are saying.

Be sure to rest up tonight for the last day of classes tomorrow, followed by the final party—Bash to the Future.